title: [Clinical features of influenza A H1N1 2009: a multicentre study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical and epidemiological features of influenza A H1N1 2009 diagnosed patients in the Emergency Department of 4 hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective multicentre study conducted from july to december 2009. The patients diagnosed by Real-Time PCR of influenza A H1N1 2009 in the emergency department were included. The test was requested according to the protocols established throughout the epidemic. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory variables and outcomes were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 456 cases were included, with a median age of 6.5years (PC(25-75) 3-10.6). There were risk factors of complications In 266 patients (59.4%) due to the influenza, mainly: respiratory (47%), cardiovascular (17%), neurological (14%) and immunosuppression (11%). The most frequent symptoms were fever (96%), (88%) cough, (72%) rhinorrhoea, muscle aches or asthenia and breathing difficulties and, less common, gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. Chest X-ray was performed on 224 cases (49%), with lobar (31%) and interstitial (15%) infiltrates. One hundred and forty patients (31%) were hospitalised and 3.2% required Intensive Care Unit (median stay 4 and 3.5days, respectively). The most frequent complications were pneumonias and bronchospasms. Three patients died (a previously healthy patient with myocarditis and 2 patients with encephalopathy due to respiratory failure). Another case of myocarditis recovered with sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The profile of patient with influenza A 2009 diagnosed in the emergency department was a school child, with risk factors of complications, presenting with respiratory symptoms and fever over a short time, and who can be discharged. It is important to emphasise myocarditis, as well as the usual respiratory complications of influenza virus.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urgencias, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilà de Muga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Torre Monmany
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asensio Carretero
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Travería Casanovas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez Mejías
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Coll Sibina
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luaces Cubells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies